Moesch won’t dwell on Ryan’s departure

Aaron Moesch picked a good time to be part of the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program.

Since the former Green Bay Southwest standout accepted a preferred walk-on offer with the Badgers in 2013, he has been part of two Final Four teams and gotten a chance to play and practice with two NBA players in Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker.

And now, after longtime coach Bo Ryan released a statement on Monday announcing his intentions to retire after next year, the 6-foot-8 forward will have an opportunity to be part of a future Hall of Famer’s final season.

But hold on.

Moesch isn’t going to ponder too much about that right now. If he’s learned anything from Ryan his first two years, it’s to always look at what’s next. As in, the next workout. The next practice. The next opponent.

Life after Ryan isn’t something to waste energy on at this moment.

“This is where I’m going to go on a little rant,” Moesch said. “Me and a couple of the guys were looking at Twitter all day and Facebook and all the Instagrams and everything. Me and (guard Zak Showalter) kind of looked at each other and were like, ‘Guys, he’s not leaving. We have another year.’

“It’s one of those things where people see this news come out, and they automatically jump to how was he as a coach? He’s not done. We have another year. It’s important at this time to remember we have a summer of basketball to play. We still have a full season of basketball still out there to play.”

Moesch wasn’t expecting Ryan to make this kind of announcement, but he also pointed out it wasn’t the most surprising thing he’s ever heard.

That doesn’t mean he won’t miss him. Moesch has enjoyed his time playing for Ryan. Well, and still playing for him.

“This could be our best year yet for all we know,” Moesch said. “He is going to put his whole body, mind and soul into this season. There is a whole other season of experience to have with him. Up to this point, it’s been one of the most unbelievable things in my life, to learn from someone who is a surefire Hall of Fame coach.

“That’s just something not everyone can say they have done.”

Moesch feels good about his future with the Badgers even without Ryan. There could be some worry that as a walk-on, he might not fit the plans of a new coach. Ryan would like the school to hire associate head coach Greg Gard as his replacement, a sentiment that was echoed by Moesch.

But even if it’s someone outside the program, Moesch is comfortable with his standing on the team. He still has three seasons of eligibility remaining after redshirting his first year.

He came to Wisconsin after turning down a similar walk-on offer from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and a scholarship offer by Michigan Tech.

Moesch averaged 2 minutes per contest in 14 games last season in what amounted to his rookie year.

“If I was a bad-character guy, I’d be worried,” Moesch said. “You prepare for moments like this in your practice and in your school. I don’t think I’ve done anything to show that I shouldn’t belong to this team. I’ve only done things good to the University, to the community, to teammates.

“It’s just preparation. Showing up for practice every day. Putting work in on the court, putting in work in the classroom. There are times like this when that stuff matters, when a year and a half from now everybody is going to be fighting for a spot.”